Just because you’re a road warrior, doesn’t mean you have to go to war over the little things. Let’s take one point of contention out of the cabin: Armrest ownership. Is there an unwritten code of ethics for determining dibs on the armrest? There’s a reason why we make it our business to help travelers get out of the middleseat — it’s a bummer being squashed in between two strangers for hours. Since a “middleseater” is already at a comfort disadvantage, it seems only fair that armrest rights should be all theirs.

We did some digging on Quora to see if this conundrum had been discussed with any resolution. Here are some interesting thoughts:

Jeff Chou says, “For two seats: Whoever gets there first. If you both arrive at the same time, rock it off. Leaving your seat forfeits rights to the armrest (lifting your arm momentarily to lift the tray table or otherwise, does not count).

For three seats:
Middle gets both armrests. Aisle gets one armrest and a little bit of legroom, window gets one armrest and a window.”

The ups and downs of business travelers carry important weight and vast economic impact in the US. According to a research report published in 2013 by the U.S. Travel Association with research conducted by Oxford Economics, business travel spending by U.S. companies in 2012 generated an estimated $524 billion in business sales, supporting 3.7 million jobs with an annual payroll of $152 billion.

Among the key highlights of the report, almost half of business travelers surveyed said they plan on taking more trips in 2015 as compared to 2014, while a similar number said they anticipate taking more trips in 2015 than they did two years ago in 2013.

This translates into a rather significant increase given a business traveler population in the United States that takes over 450 million domestic trips a year.

Spira’s report concludes that loyalty to both airlines and hotels remains largely unchanged over the past three years. In the most recent survey, 75.3% of travelers say they prefer to stay at a particular brand of hotel, an increase of 2.7 percentage points over last year. The number of travelers who prefer to fly with a particular airline or alliance, 92%, remains statistically unchanged over the course of the survey.

Frequent travelers are avid users of technology. Nine out of ten report doing all of the following over a twelve-month period:

Researched information about flights

Researched information about hotels

Made a flight reservation

Made a hotel reservation

Checked a flight’s status

Working with popular online travel community, FlyerTalk, more than 1,700 business travelers participated in the study. The outcomes suggest a significant turning point for business travelers, as well as the travel industry. Change is prevalent, from airline mergers to significant changes in airline and hotel loyalty programs, to new imperatives for amenities and services that the business traveler demands.

ExpertFlyer interviewed Marilyn Waite, founder of SustainableVisit.com, a resource for the growing number of sustainable travel enthusiasts who want to support environmentally and socially responsible businesses in the places they visit.

“There’s been a lack of consolidated, practical and worldwide information on sustainable travel,” says Waite. “Travelers with the best intentions do not know where to eat, where to stay, how to commute and what activities to take part in that contribute to sustainable development. Responsible tourists, eco-tourists and tourists who simply do not want to do harm to the local population do not have useful information when they need it, where they need it.”

Watch our interview with Marilyn and read her checklist for getting started as a gentle traveler:

In our last installment, we featured travel trends presented at the New York Times Travel Show by travel gurus, Arthur and Pauline Frommer. This post will list the Frommers’ top destination picks for 2015, as presented at the show in January.

Belize – This tropical oasis has all of the trappings of Costa Rica plus family friendly cultural attractions, including Mayan Temples and underwater caves lined with ancient skulls

Belgium – With the US dollar gaining strength, it’s an opportune time to visit Europe and Belgium, in particular. There are many celebrations and anniversaries happening this year, including the 125th anniversary of Van Gogh’s death, as well as the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo

South Dakota – While the 100th anniversary of the building of Mount Rushmore isn’t until 2016, if you’re thinking of taking a trip to the home of the Badlands, you’ll beat crazy crowds if you visit in 2015

Tanzania – Africa’s tourism market has seen a rapid decline since the Ebola crisis has created mass hysteria among Westerners. The virus is contained in only a small region in West Africa – far from Tanzania. The African government is offering super low travel packages to offset the slump. Some travel companies are offering all-inclusive safari vacations with airfare for as little as $1,200

Asheville, NC – This is a hip and trendy destination that has gone from gritty to great after being revitalized. Accent on the Smoky Mountains and charming B+Bs

Chaco National Historic Park – Located in New Mexico, the Frommers urge folks to visit ruins of the ancient Pueblo people in this park before fracking destabilizes the archaelogy

Pompidou Center – Located in Malaga, Spain, this area has also been transformed from an industrial district to a thing of beauty and culture

Argentina – If you’re looking for a cheap unforgettable vacation, visit Patagonia this year. The currency has been cut in half for US travelers

Austria – The hills are alive with the sound of music! And there will be plenty to see, do and celebrate around the 50th anniversary of the Sound of Music

Yellowstone Park – Lots of geothermal activity expected this year, along with the usual breathtaking vistas, flora and fauna

Washington D.C. – 2015 marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln

Cruise with Cunard – Cunard, a top luxury cruise liner, celebrates its 175th anniversary with special onboard lectures and performances

London – Long live the Queen! Queen Elizabeth reigns supreme this year as the longest reigning monarch in history — and there will be plenty of special events and promotions to celebrate. Oh and the Tube expands operation to 24/7, so you can get around underground with no traffic.

Baby, it may have been cold and grey outside, but the recent New York Times Travel show at New York’s Javits Center offered respite from the chill with dreams of colorful, temperate and far off environs.

ExpertFlyer was on hand to visit with exhibitors and attend seminars presented by venerated travel experts and guide publishers, Arthur and Pauline Frommer. Here’s a cheat sheet on the travel trends and top destinations they recommend for 2015.

Now that travel restrictions have been relaxed, Cuba is the talk of the town for2015. Experts are advising to get packing quickly before over commercialization overtakes the beauty and nostalgia of this island frozen in time.

If you’re thinking about making the trek, the Frommers recommend some accommodation options:

There are also a number of travel service providers who are quickly expanding their offerings or specializing in Cuban travel, including SmarTours.comand CubaTravelServices.com.

There was buzz about the surging US dollar and the benefit that it will offer international travelers, particularly those traveling to Europe and Latin American destinations, like Argentina.

Hotel chains are upping their game this year, including sophisticated technology enhancements that allow your smartphone to open doors, as well as track your purchasing habits for dynamic pricing and targeted promotions – good and bad. Now’s a good time to join hotel loyalty programs, too, as perks will include free wi-fi and room upgrades.

In our next installment we’ll count down the top 14 travel spots to consider this year.